Need some help from the 1:1 4x4 guys, '76 Chevy questions

[Mad-Man]

Alright guys, I'm in need of some help with a '76 Chevy pick up I'm thinking about buying.

The story is that a friend of mine at work has this truck. His father bought it new back in 76 to use on the farm. When his dad died, his brother took the truck and started to bastardize it. My friend ended up with the truck and now it sits taking up space. I have not seen this truck in person yet, but this is what I was told:

76 half ton
short cab, long box
4x4
350
truck was a 3 on the tree stick then converted to an auto
the auto trans and transfer case were swapped in and the transfer case is jammed in low range

The truck has been sitting for 3 years. 3 years ago it got new rockers, fenders and a new box.

OK, so now for the questions. Does this thing sound like it is worth $600? That's what my buddy wants for it. Any ideas what is under it for axles? From what I was told they are stock. The front has manual hubs if that helps to identify them. And last, Do you guys think the stock drivetrain can handle some 35's? It won't be a hardcore offroader, just a rig to take through the fields and pull a pop-up camper from time to time.

Thanks for any help you guys can offer!

 

[Pete from Houston]

Being a '76 it probably still has Dana 44's front and rear. These are OK for a mild tread 35 IMO. Going with an aggressive tread like a Swamper might be too much for the axles to handle under such a heavy truck. A rear axle swap to a Corporate 14 bolt and swapping the front hubs over to 8 lugs would give you a much stronger rear end that will take more abuse than the D44 will. You need to see which trans and t-case was installed and make sure they also installed the correct cooling lines and radiator. The stuck t-case might be as simple a fix as a broken shift linkage, or it could have been flat-towed and accidentally welded into low range (I did that to a NP208 t-case once).

You can probably fit narrow 33's on the truck with no lift at all and 35's with just a 2 1/2" lift. Skip the body lifts and raise it the right way!

You are the only one who can decide if it's worth $600...it's your money! You could probably part it out and scrap what's left for that much.

 

[Mad-Man]

Thanks for the advice Pete! I'm thinking of running a tire along the lines of a 35 12.5 BFG MT. The 3 speed manual trans and transfer case might come with the truck if they're still in his shed. I'll probably pull the auto out in favor of a stick anyways. For a lift, I am thinking 4" springs, no blocks, no body lift. I want to use the truck as a driver (not daily but a truck comes in handy pretty often), so I want it as safe and street worthy as possible.

What trucks should I be looking at for stronger axles, same vintage one ton models?

 

[jcboof]

Well, with older chevy's, if its in decent shape and runs good, then its probably worth about 1000 bucks. I had a 78 that I sold a few years ago that was BEAT and rusty but it had a good motor and tranny in it and i managed to get 1500 out of it when I sold it.
I'd say its a good deal for the money.

As far as the axles, Like the other guy said, probably Dana 44's. 35's will be fine under it as long as you don't do any serious wheeling. hell, I had 38's on mine with stock axles!

I currently have a 87 4x4 and it has 7" of lift and 35's on it. and the axles are all stock and I beat the snot out of em!!

 

[dickwart]

Been a chevy/toyota builder fer a few years now... Had a 70' 3/4 ton w/ a clapt out 2.5" lift and 35's... AS long as you keep an eye on the axle u-joints and make sure the caps dont fall out and break the ears off the axles you can be pretty abusive to a 44 w/ 35" tires. U just have to keep an eye on them. IE, I would check them after every trip to the hills to cut firewood and pound the caps back in if necissary. This is my truck I just put together. Was a 2wd half tone now its a 1 ton 4WD... 56" front springs, longer shackle and 1" zero rate in the front and a shackle flip in the back w/ stock 85 1 ton rear springs and a 6" shackle. Sitting on 39.5 swampers.

As far as the worth of the truck... If it runs good its worth $600 but if the case is shot and you gatta start shopping, well its up to yer skills and freetime if you wanna put the time and money into a fixer upper or just save a little more and buy a runnin/drivin truck

 

[JeremyH]

Going with an aggressive tread like a Swamper might be too much for the axles to handle under such a heavy truck.

Good advice. Not only will a Swamper increase your chances of breakage because of the added traction, but those Interco tires are also heavy as hell, which will only further increase those chances.

 

[TexasSP]

Sounds like a decent deal to me and those don't come along often. Most seem to think their beat up mid 70's pickups are worth 2500 and up so 600 is reasonable and I would snap at it.

 

[rugerboy]

Being a '76 it probably still has Dana 44's front and rear. These are OK for a mild tread 35 IMO. Going with an aggressive tread like a Swamper might be too much for the axles to handle under such a heavy truck. A rear axle swap to a Corporate 14 bolt and swapping the front hubs over to 8 lugs would give you a much stronger rear end that will take more abuse than the D44 will. You need to see which trans and t-case was installed and make sure they also installed the correct cooling lines and radiator. The stuck t-case might be as simple a fix as a broken shift linkage, or it could have been flat-towed and accidentally welded into low range (I did that to a NP208 t-case once).

You can probably fit narrow 33's on the truck with no lift at all and 35's with just a 2 1/2" lift. Skip the body lifts and raise it the right way!

You are the only one who can decide if it's worth $600...it's your money! You could probably part it out and scrap what's left for that much.

Well, with older chevy's, if its in decent shape and runs good, then its probably worth about 1000 bucks. I had a 78 that I sold a few years ago that was BEAT and rusty but it had a good motor and tranny in it and i managed to get 1500 out of it when I sold it.
I'd say its a good deal for the money.

As far as the axles, Like the other guy said, probably Dana 44's. 35's will be fine under it as long as you don't do any serious wheeling. hell, I had 38's on mine with stock axles!

I currently have a 87 4x4 and it has 7" of lift and 35's on it. and the axles are all stock and I beat the snot out of em!!

76 should be a Dana 44 front ( plenty strong) and a 12 bolt rear.... NOT a 44! the 12 bolt is JUNK! you could go 3/4 tone fairly cheep ans a ton stronger!! the front most deff. is a 44 so is a 3/4 ton., only difference is the spindle, backing plates, hubs and rotors. as for the rear a bastard u-joint (cant remember the number but could look) and u- bolts and your done. and wheels of course"thumbsup"